Catch operator



Dec. 8, 1942.

. BORCHERs CATCH OPERATOR Filed Jan. 3l, 1941 Earl Y or l* [VZW Patented Dec. 8, 1942 y Earl Bcrchers, Rockford Ill., assignor to American Cabinet Hardware Corporation, Rockford,

Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 31, 1941, Serial No. 376,795`

4 Claims.

The invention relates generally to catches for ca-binet doors or the like and more particularly to a manual operator for the catch.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel catch operator comprising a handle or pull provided with a manually movable part for operating the catch, which part is so shaped and positioned as to conform to the general design of the handle or pull and to appear to Aconstitute a part thereof.

It is also an object to provide a novel operator comprising a handle of a generally bowed form under Which the ngers of the hand may be inserted to pull the door open, and a movable part mounted in the front face of the handle 'and adapted to be actuated by pushing thereagainst with the thumb While the handle is grasped b-y the fingers.

A further object is Yto provide a novel operator for a catch of the type adapted to be operated by a pin extending through the door, the operator being provided with a'manually movable part by means of which the pinis pushed to operate'the catch.

Other objects and advantages Will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: Y

Figure l is a perspective view of Aa door pro'- vided with a catch` operator embodyingl the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the catch operator and showing its connection with the catch.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4is a view of the tor disassembled.

The catch operator herein disclosed is adapted for use with a door IU of a cabinet or the like, the door being surrounded by a frame I I. A device embodying the features of the invention is adapted for use with a catch, indicated at I2, mounted on the inner face of the door and provided With a bolt I3 arranged to engage a strike I4 secured to the frame The catch I2 is of the type which is operated by means of va push pin I5 extending from the catch through the door and into the catch operator.

The catch operator in the present instance is adapted to be mounted on the front face of the door and is of bowed form, that is, in the general shape of a door pull or the like which is adapted to be grasped by inserting the fingers under the bowed portion thereof. When the departs of the'catch opera section taken on the line v;

vice is so grasped, the thumb is free. For this reason the present structure is designed so that the thumb may be utilized to efcta manual release of the catch. Heretofore catch operators have beenprovided with thumb piecesfor operating the catch, but usually such thumb pieces project beyond the handle and thus detract from the appearance of the device. The present device is arranged so that the thumb piece'is embodied in the handle and is shaped to conform to the contour of the handle so that a unitary appearance is presented. K

In its preferred form, a catch operator einbodying the features of the invention comprises a handle 20 of bowed form so that its ends may be secured flush against the outer face of the door. Preferably the upper end is somewhat larger than the lower end and is provided with a cavity 2| extending through from the front to the rear face thereof. In the preferred commercial form, the handle 20 is a die casting. The cavity 2| in the present instance extends not only through the upper end portion of the handle but also through a part of the intermediate portion which is adapted to be grasped by the fingers.

Mounted `in the rear part of the cavity 2| and closing the rear face thereof is a supporting strip, indicated generally at 22. 'I'he supporting strip comprises a straight portion 23 underlying that portionof the end of the handle which is secured iiush against the door, and a curved portion 24V conforming to the curvature of the portion of the handle adapted to be grasped by the fingers. Tosecure' the supporting strip 22 in place, rivetingV lugs 25 are formed on the handle to extend through apertures 26 in the respective ends of the supporting strip and are riveted over the rear face o'f the strip. The supporting strip 22 is also provided With'a flanged'aperture 2l to receive and serve as a guide for the push pin I5.

Mounted in the front portion of the cavity 2| is a manually operable member or thumb piece, indicated generally at 30. The thumb piece in its preferred form is shaped to conform to the front contour of the handle 20. To this end it is generally arcuate in form and preferably comprises a sheet of metal bent to the form of a channel having a central Web 3| and side flanges 32. The central web is of a Width substantially equal to the front edge of the handle 20 and may be provided with the same surface decoration as the handle. Thus in the present instance a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves are formed in the web 3|, which aline with and conthumb and the pin I5 2 stitute extensions of similar grooves formed in the handle. l

The thumb piece 30 is preferably pivotally mounted. To so support the thumb piece, the curved portion 24 of the supporting strip is provided with a pair of ears 2B bent from the side edges thereof and extending forwardly within the cavity to support a pivot pin 33. The side flanges 32 of the thumb piece are also provided with a pair of ears 34 mounted on the pivot pin 33 between the ears 28 of the supporting strip.

The thumb piece is adapted to actuate the pin and, in order to provide easy operation thereof, the edges of the side anges 32 of the thumb piece are curved as at 35 to bear against a head 36 formed on the front end of the catch operating pin I5. The edges 35 because of their curvature will always bear squarely against the head 36 as the thumb piece swings. Preferably a torsion spring 31 is mounted on the pivot pin 33 to cause the thumb piece to swing forwardly. In order that the thumb piece may normally occupy a position in proper alinement with the handle, the upper end of the side flanges 32 extend beyond the web 3l, as indicated at 38, to abut the handle and limit the forward movement of the thumb piece caused by the torsion spring 31. To provide space for the thumb, the handle 20 is provided withan indentation, or in other words, is cut away at the side portions thereof, as at 40, to form a curved depression fitting the end of the thumb.

The handle 20 isadapted to be secured at its respective ends torthe door. In the preferred manner of so securing the handle, the upper riveting lug 25, by which the supporting strip 22 is secured to the handle, is tubular in form and is threaded to receive one of the screws, here indicated at 4I,.by which the catch is secured to the door. A second screw 42 extends through the door and is threaded into the lower end of the handle 2U. of the lower end of the handle is lengthened by providing a small boss 43 on the rear face of the lower end, extending into a bore in the door.

In use, the handle is adapted to be grasped by inserting the ngers thereunder so that the door may be pulled open. To release the catch, the thumb piece 30 is depressed by the operators thereby given a push to .release the bolt I3 of the catch. The indentation or cut away portions 40 of the handle provide space for the thumb so that the thumb piece 30 may be fully depressed. When the thumb piece is released, the torsion spring 31 swings it forwardly into a position where it is alined with the front face of the handle. o

l From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel catch operator generally generally bowed form Preferably the threaded portion in the form of a pull and provided with a manually movable part for operating the catch, which is so shaped and positioned as to conform to the` general design of the handle. The handle may be readily grasped by the fingers of the hand and at the same time the movable part may be readily operated by the thumb.

I claim as my invention:

l. A catch operator of the character described comprising, in combination, a handle adapted to be secured to the face of a door and having a which may be grasped by inserting the fingers thereunder, said handle having a cavity extending through one end thereof from the front to the rear face, a supporting strip closing the rear of said cavity and slidably supporting a push pin for operating the catch, and a manually operable member pivotally carried by said supporting strip and located in the front part of said cavity and adapted to .bear against said pin, said manually operable member being adapted to be operated by the thumb when the handle is grasped.

2. A catch operator of the character described comprising,fin combination, a die cast handle having a cavity extending through one end thereof, a supporting strip secured in the rear portion of said cavity and provided with a pair of ears extending into the cavity, a thumb piece of generally channel shape mounted in the front portion of said cavity and pivotally supported by said ears, and a pin slidably supported by said supporting strip and in abutment with said thumb piece to be operated thereby.

3. A catch operator of the character described comprising, in combination, a handle having a cavity therethrough, a thumb piece mounted in the front portion of said cavity and'comprising an arcuate channel member, the flanges of said channel member being pivotally supported at one end within the cavity, the edges of said anges being curved at the other end of said member, and a slidable pin having a head bearing against said curved edges. Y

4. A catch operator of the character described comprising, in combination, a handle having a cavity extending through one end thereof, a supporting strip secured in the rear portion of said cavity and provided with a pair of ears extending into the cavity and carrying a pivot pin, a thumb piece mounted in the front portion of said cavity and provided with a pair of ears mounted on said pivot pin, a pin extending rearwardly from the handle and actuated by the thumb piece for operating the catch, and a torsion spring mounted on said pivot pin and tending to swing the thumb piece forwardly.'

EARL Bor-termas.

l CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,`50li,llp5. December 8, 19ML f BORCHERS.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in the above numbered patent was erroneously written and printed as 1'American Cabinet Hardware Corporation" Whereas said name should have been Written and printed as --Amerion Cabinet Hardware Corporation, Rockford', Illinois,A of Rockford, Illinois, a

corporation of Illinois", as shown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction theriein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of June, A. D. 191411..

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents. 

